Contact: Iris Ho at 202-547-3686/ 202-255-1593

For Immediate Release                                                                            July 28, 2005

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE INTRODUCES LEGISLATION CALLING FOR U.S.-TAIWAN HI-LEVEL MILITARY EXCHANGE/URGING TAIWAN TO DECIDE FUTURE THROUGH REFERENDUM

One week after the Pentagon released its annual assessment report on China's military power, Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ) introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res. 219) in the evening of July 27 calling for the enhancement of Taiwan’s security by upgrading U.S.-Taiwan high-level military visits and supporting a referendum as the ultimate mechanism to determine Taiwan’s future.

The resolution concludes that: 

(3) the President should abolish all restrictions on visits by United States military high-level officials to Taiwan to help safeguard United States security interests in the region; and (5) the future of Taiwan should be determined free from coercion by the People’s Republic of China, peacefully, and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan through a democratic mechanism such as a referendum.

The resolution also makes references to the Taiwan Relations Act and to the recently published DOD report: Whereas in a July 19, 2005 report, the Department of Defense stated that ‘‘[t]he cross-Strait balance of power is shifting towards Beijing . . . Chinese air, naval and missile force modernization is increasing demands on Taiwan to develop countermeasures that would enable it to avoid being quickly overwhelmed.’’

Finally, the resolution calls upon the president to authorize the sale of Aegis to Taiwan: “for (4) the President should authorize the sale of the Aegis system to Taiwan, which would enable Taiwan to defend itself against the threat of a missile attack by the People’s Republic of China.”

FAPA President Ming-chi Wu states: “The serious lack of direct communication between senior military officials in Taiwan and the U.S. needs to be addressed immediately. This is not only in Taiwan’s interest but also in U.S. interest, because the current restrictions pose a great danger to the American soldiers who would put their lives on the line if and when a conflict arises in the Taiwan Strait. Should the U.S. need to intervene in a Taiwan Strait crisis, an effective contingency plan requires smooth and seamless coordination between the Taiwanese and U.S. militaries. The introduction of this resolution by Rep. Andrews is therefore timely and necessary.” 

Wu concludes: “Rep. Andrews was one of the 36 Members of Congress who signed an open letter to the people of Taiwan during the March 2004 presidential elections in which the Members of Congress concluded: “You have earned the right to hold exclusive responsibility for determining the future of Taiwan and to exercise democratic processes. This includes holding referenda free from intimidation or threat of force from any country including communist China.” It is encouraging to see that he has now decided to put this concept into legislation.”

【FAPA 新聞稿】                                                                                                                                        【2005年7月28日】

新聞聯絡人何燕青 202-547-3686/ 202-255-1593

美眾議員提出決議案，呼籲台美高層軍事交流，支持公民投票決定台灣前途

在美國國防部公佈中國軍力年度報告近十天之後，台灣連線成員之一的眾議員安德魯斯(Robert Andrews, D-NJ)特於27日晚間提出第 219 號決議案(H.Con.Res.219)，呼籲加強台灣安全，提昇台美軍事高層官員互訪、交流，並支持公民投票為決定台灣前途的唯一依歸。

安德魯斯議員的第219號決議案引述了台灣關係法部份條文，以及美國國防部日前公佈的中國軍力年度報告，以突顯出台海地區的和平與穩定受到中國的挑戰。決議案表示：台海的權力平衡正在向北京傾斜…..中國的空、海與飛彈軍力現代化，迫使台灣必需發展因應措施的需求增加，以防止被中國快速擊潰。決議案也表示：由於美國政府劃地自限的限制，美國將領無法參訪台灣，與台灣軍官定期見面；缺乏台美高層軍事交流，將會導致屆時美軍介入台海爭端時，美軍緊急因應措施效率大受影響。

決議案最後建議：（美國）總統應該全面解除美國高層軍事人員訪台的限制，以協助確保美國在當地的區域利益；總統應該授權出售神盾級驅逐艦，使台灣得以抵抗中華人民共和國的飛彈威脅。決議案最後並支持台灣前途和平解決，透過如公民投票等民主程序，獲得台灣人民的同意。

FAPA會長吳明基表示：「台美之間軍事交流嚴重短缺的這個問題一定要立即解決。這不僅符合台灣的利益，也符合美國的利益。如果美國必須介入台海危機，一個有效的緊急應變措施，勢必需要台美兩國軍隊的合作無間。但是，現存台美高層軍事官員互訪的限制，屆時只會對美國子弟兵的生命造成威脅。這是美國國會首次在決議案中公開呼籲美國總統全面解除台美高層軍事官員互訪的限制。」

吳明基繼續表示：「此外，這個決議案也再度重申美國國會支持台灣人民行使公民投票的權利。今年三月中旬，逾三十位眾議員曾公開致函台灣人民，鼓勵他們參與台灣史上首次公民投票的舉行；安德魯斯議員便是三十多位議員之一。」